The rush as the skyline comes into view as you drive over the George Washington Bridge…The incessant din of honking taxis…the nostalgic aroma of roasted chestnuts…the crowds…the lights…there is nothing in the world like the energy of New York City during the holiday season!

A Dreamy Week at Emerald Grande Harbor Walk Village in Destin, Florida-So Worth the Drive

A Dreamy Week at Emerald Grande

Over the past six years, we have flown to Destin, Florida, several times to visit my son, Ryan, who was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Staying on base or wherever Ryan was currently residing, we never had to consider booking a condo or hotel. Nevertheless, I cannot tell you how many times we would gaze starry-eyed at the Emerald Grande–a majestic castle nestled on the edge of the sparkling harbor in dreamy Destin.

So when this spring break was fast approaching, Brooke and I decided to venture on our first mother-daughter road trip to Florida from Chicago–and yes, we decided that after a fourteen hour drive, we deserved a week of pampering at the breathtaking Emerald Grande. It was the best decision we could have made and we are tremendously grateful for the kindness of the staff, the beauty of the resort, tranquil natural surroundings and the lifetime of fun mother-daughter memories we’ve created. Even more exciting was Ryan flying back to Destin to spend the week with us. What a blessing!

Approaching the Pot of Gold at the end of our Crazy Fun Road Trip!

This week was literally a dream come true for us. From the moment Brooke and I arrived and walked into the extravagant foyer, we were in awe. The ambiance and elegance of the hotel is stunning. The staff was so welcoming, and we were comfortably lounging on our gorgeous balconies (yes, balconies is plural) in under five minutes!

From floor to ceiling, The Emerald Grande exudes elegance and class.

Our condo was the most spacious, elegant and immaculate three bedroom, three bath heaven on the 11th floor overlooking the harbor, white sand beaches and Gulf of Mexico.

The full size kitchen has beautiful granite counter tops, an enormous two-tiered island and gorgeous stainless steel appliances. The full dining and living room offers even more space for some serious entertaining. The detail and decor in every room was stately and luxurious.

But what took the cake, in our opinion, were the two enormous balconies. The private balcony, right off of one of the two exquisite master bedrooms was so serene–the ideal setting for greeting the sunrise with your morning cup of coffee. The other balcony, an enormous wrap around, has three access points–the second master bedroom, the living room and the dining room. The sunset views from this balcony were phenomenal. There is a spacious outdoor dining table with seating for eight, as well as lounge chairs for relaxing as the sky becomes ablaze with the glistening sunsets. You could literally entertain about 50 people on the balcony and there would still be ample room.

The entrance to our condo

One of our three bedrooms with private balcony

Sheer LuxuryPrivate Master BalconyDining Room

Living Room

The Cuisine

After arriving, Brooke and I were quite hungry and ordered a few snacks. Room service arrived in under ten minutes and the food was delectable. We are big breakfast people, so each morning we enjoyed poolside dining from the Grande Vista Restaurant. We highly recommend this as a perfect way to start a day of relaxation or adventure.

My first taste of cheesy grits–love them!

The Grande Vista Restaurant

The Spa:

Of course, Brooke and I had to spend a few hours (ok…half a day) at the Spa. Immediately entering, the ambiance will lull you into a state of serenity. We have to give a shout out to Ana, Melissa and Elise for the best mother-daughter rejuvenation time. We were truly pampered with our delicious strawberry smoothies, soothing massages, sauna time and the mesmerizing view of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Spa also has a beautiful gift shop and everything is so reasonably priced!

The Fitness Center

There’s really no excuse to not work out with this view!

The Pool:

The cheerful yellow umbrellas against the turquoise sea makes for the perfect setting for the heated pool, hot tub, bar, dining and activity area.

The Harbor and Beaches:

The setting of the Emerald Grande is as extravagant as a Caribbean getaway without the cost of airfare for us. The location is also perfect for it’s situated right in the midst of the Harbor Walk where we enjoyed the many delicious restaurants, zip lining, shopping and just strolling along watching the plethora of beautiful boats passing by. The Harbor Walk offers something for everyone: kayaks, jet skis, dolphin cruises, along with many other boating excursions, parasailing, concerts, dining, a shuttle to the white sand beaches right within view, an abundance of kid friendly boardwalk activities and so much more! From lounging on your panoramic balcony overlooking the harbor and gulf of Mexico, to a two minute elevator ride from your room to the Harbor Walk to enjoy socializing or a fun excursion, there is really no reason to ever leave the resort area. It’s absolutely perfect.

Brooke and Ryan together again

Brooke’s version of tweeting:))

And ohhhhhh…..those sunsets….

We cannot thank all of the staff at Emerald Grande. Our experience was truly blissful. Beyond a 5 Star experience! We will definitely be returning.